Archeage

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination delivers a benchmark result that firmly establishes it as a top-tier performer in Archeage, ranking 56th out of 2761 tested configurations. This places the combo in the top 2% of all systems tested, a position that reflects the substantial horsepower of both components. The data shows a system capable of extreme frame rates at lower resolutions, while also revealing the game's scaling behavior and the shifting bottleneck between CPU and GPU as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, though the magnitude of the drop varies significantly depending on the graphics preset. At the Low setting, the average frame rate falls from 298 FPS at 1920x1080 to 200 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 115 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 33% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 42.5% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The transition from 1080p to 4K at Low settings results in a 61.4% drop in average FPS, indicating that even at the lowest visual fidelity, the GPU is being heavily taxed at higher resolutions.

The Medium preset shows a similar scaling trend, with average FPS moving from 265 at 1080p, to 178 at 1440p, and 102 at 4K. The percentage drops here are 32.8% and 42.7% respectively, closely mirroring the Low preset's scaling. The High preset follows the same trajectory but with lower absolute numbers: 180 FPS at 1080p, 121 FPS at 1440p, and 69 FPS at 4K. This represents a 32.8% drop to 1440p and a 43% drop to 4K, showing that the resolution scaling is consistent regardless of the preset, with a roughly one-third loss moving to 1440p and a near-halving of performance when moving from 1440p to 4K.

The Ultra preset exhibits the most dramatic scaling, with average FPS plummeting from 123 at 1080p, to 83 at 1440p, and 47 at 4K. The percentage drops are 32.5% and 43.4% respectively, which is remarkably consistent with the other presets. However, the absolute delta is telling: the gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 175 FPS, but at 4K this gap narrows to just 68 FPS. This convergence suggests that as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the limiting component, and the CPU's influence on frame rate diminishes. The data indicates that at 4K, even the massive RTX 4090 is the primary constraint, with all presets falling below the 120 FPS threshold that lower resolutions easily surpass.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090's specifications are central to understanding its performance in Archeage. With 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, the card provides a memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s, which is more than sufficient for the textures and assets in a 2014 MMORPG. The GPU's 16384 shading units, 512 TMUs, and 176 ROPs deliver a raw compute capability of 82.58 TFLOPS FP32, ensuring that pixel throughput is never a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The core clocks, with a base of 2235 MHz and a boost of 2520 MHz, are high for the Ada Lovelace architecture, and the memory runs at an effective 21 Gbps.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60347. Its nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Arc Pro A60 (deltaPct 0) and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (deltaPct 0.3), though these are workstation cards with vastly different driver optimizations. The RTX 4090's data shows it is an end-of-life product, but its performance in Archeage is still formidable. The 4K results, particularly at Ultra settings where the average FPS is 47, demonstrate that the game's engine is demanding at high resolutions, and the GPU's 24 GB buffer is not the limiting factor. Instead, the raw shader and ROP throughput are being saturated. The fact that the card can deliver 115 FPS at 4K Low and 102 FPS at 4K Medium shows that when the GPU load is reduced, the system can still achieve high frame rates, but the Ultra preset's 47 FPS average indicates a heavy reliance on GPU compute for its enhanced effects.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for maximizing frame rate with this combo?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 at Low settings yields the highest average FPS at 298. For a balance of quality and speed, 2560x1440 at High settings provides 121 FPS, while 4K at High delivers a playable 69 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4090 compare to its closest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4090 has an average benchmark score of 60347, placing it in the 88th percentile. Its nearest rival, the Intel Arc Pro A60, has a deltaPct of 0, indicating a nearly identical average score of 60326.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 47, which is significantly lower than the 123 FPS at 1080p Ultra. The consistent percentage drop across presets (~33% to 1440p, ~43% to 4K) suggests the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions, as its workload increases with pixel count.

Q: What is the performance gap between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves 298 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 123 FPS. This is a difference of 175 FPS, or a 58.7% reduction in performance when moving from Low to Ultra.

Q: Does the RTX 4090's high memory bandwidth impact the 4K results?

A: The RTX 4090 has a memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s, which is substantial. However, the 4K results show a consistent drop in FPS across all presets, indicating that the GPU's compute units, not memory bandwidth, are the primary constraint in Archeage at this resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank overall in the database for Archeage?

A: The combo ranks 56th out of 2761 tested combinations, placing it in the top 2% of all systems. This high rank is influenced by the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance and the GPU's high frame rates at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 achieves a rank of 56 out of 2761 tested combos for Archeage, placing it in the 98th percentile of all systems. This is a stellar position, driven by the CPU's exceptional single-threaded performance, which is critical for MMORPGs, and the GPU's ability to push high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 and a single-core score of 5960, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD EPYC 4464P (deltaPct -0.3) and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F (deltaPct 0.3), showing that the 265 is at parity with its closest competitors.

The GPU's rank in the 88th percentile, while lower than the CPU's, is still high, and its performance in Archeage is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions. The combo's overall rank of 56 is higher than what either component's individual percentile would suggest, indicating that the pairing is particularly well-suited for this game. The data shows that at 1080p, the system is heavily CPU-bound, with the RTX 4090 having ample headroom, which allows the CPU's strong single-thread performance to shine. At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, but its raw power still delivers playable frame rates at High settings. This rank reflects the balance of the two components, with neither being a weak link in the chain.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 298 FPS, which is the maximum measured across all configurations. The Medium preset averages 265 FPS, with a minimum of 225 and a maximum of 305, showing a tight frame time distribution. High settings drop the average to 180 FPS, while Ultra averages 123 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 175 FPS, demonstrating that the CPU can feed the GPU at this resolution, but the GPU's workload increases substantially with higher presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS for Low settings is 200, a 32.9% reduction from 1080p. Medium averages 178 FPS, with a min of 152 and max of 205. High settings average 121 FPS, while Ultra drops to 83 FPS. The performance gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 117 FPS, showing that the GPU is starting to become a more significant factor. At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 115 FPS, Medium averages 102 FPS (min 87, max 117), High averages 69 FPS, and Ultra averages 47 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is now just 68 FPS, confirming that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K. The Medium preset's min and max values (87 and 117) show a wider variance than at lower resolutions, indicating that the GPU's frame times are less consistent under heavy load.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance for optimizing the experience in Archeage. For competitive play or maximum frame rate, the Low preset at 1920x1080 is the best choice, delivering an average of 298 FPS. This is the highest frame rate available, and it ensures the display is never the limiting factor. However, for a more balanced experience at 1080p, the Medium preset at 265 FPS is preferable, as it offers a 10.5% reduction in FPS compared to Low but likely provides a significantly better visual experience, as indicated by the jump from 298 to 265 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 121 FPS is the recommended sweet spot. It provides a 46.5% reduction from the Low preset's 200 FPS, but the visual upgrade is substantial, and the frame rate remains well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at 83 FPS is also viable for those prioritizing image quality, but the 38 FPS drop from High is steep. At 3840x2160, the High preset at 69 FPS is the best option, as it maintains a playable frame rate while offering good visuals. The Ultra preset at 47 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay, as it falls below the 60 FPS standard, and the Medium preset at 102 FPS is a better choice for those who want higher frame rates at 4K, accepting a slight visual downgrade. The data suggests that the High preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance across all resolutions, with the 121 FPS at 1440p being particularly strong.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its 30 MB of L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory (with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s) are key for MMORPG performance. The CPU's benchmark results show a strong showing in single-threaded tests, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5960, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. This is crucial for Archeage, as the game's engine relies heavily on single-threaded performance for game logic and rendering calls.

The CPU's multi-threaded performance is also robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216. However, the data shows that in Archeage, the CPU's single-thread performance is the more critical factor. At 1080p, where the GPU is not the bottleneck, the system achieves 298 FPS at Low settings, indicating that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with data at a very high rate. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD EPYC 4464P (deltaPct -0.3) and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F (deltaPct 0.3), have similar average benchmark scores, but the 265's combination of high single-thread and multi-thread scores makes it ideal for this game. The 20 cores ensure that background tasks and other threads do not interfere with the game's main thread, allowing for consistent frame rates. The data indicates that the CPU is not a limiting factor at any resolution, as the FPS drops are consistent with GPU load, not CPU saturation. The CPU's performance is sufficient to maintain high frame rates even at 1080p, where the GPU has significant headroom.